European Tour boss regrets 'colored' reference

FILE - At left, in a May 5, 2013 file photo, Sergio Garcia grimaces during The Players Championshop golf tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. At right, in a March 25, 2013 file photo, Tiger Woods walks to the 16th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament in Orlando, Fla. Woods and Garcia don't like each other, and are making no attempt to disguise their feelings. (AP Photo/File) AP

FILE - At left, in a May 5, 2013 file photo, Sergio Garcia grimaces during The Players Championshop golf tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. At right, in a March 25, 2013 file photo, Tiger Woods walks to the 16th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament in Orlando, Fla. Woods and Garcia don't like each other, and are making no attempt to disguise their feelings. (AP Photo/File) AP

The head of the European golf tour apologized for using the term "colored" during a live television interview Thursday in which he was reacting to the spat between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia.

European Tour CEO George O'Grady said that "most of Sergio's friends are colored athletes in the United States."

The word "colored" was once widely used in the United States to refer to blacks but is now considered antiquated and offensive. In some African countries, it is used to denote individuals of mixed racial ancestry.

"I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports for which I unreservedly apologize," O'Grady, who is British, said in a statement released later Thursday.

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PGA: Ryan Palmer shot an 8-under 62 that matched the lowest PGA Tour first round at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas. That put him a stroke ahead of John Rollins, who had his best round this year.

For all the rounds Palmer has played at Colonial, where he has been a full dues-paying member since 2010, he had never had such a low score.

"These old men here make me grind because I have to give them so many shots. Maybe that helps," Palmer said, smiling.

Graham DeLaet, wearing pants with a plaid design similar to the jacket Colonial winners get, matched Morgan Hoffmann, David Hearn and John Peterson at 64. Matt Kuchar, No. 13 in the world ranking and the highest-ranked player in the 136-man invitational field, was in a group of six players at 65.

Rollins, who like Palmer lives in nearby Colleyville, has playing privileges at Colonial though he doesn't play the 7,204-yard layout nearly as much as Palmer.

In his nine previous PGA Tour appearances at Colonial, Palmer's only top 10 was a tie for fifth last year.

Defending Colonial champion Zach Johnson shot 69, the 16th time in his last 17 rounds under par at Colonial.

European PGA: South Africa's James Kingston shot a 6-under 66 at Wentworth in Virginia Water, England, to take the lead during the suspended first round of the BMW PGA Championship.

Afternoon play was delayed for about 90 minutes because of the threat of lightning and five groups were still on the course when it got dark.

Finland's Mikko Ilonen opened with a 67, and Scotland's Scott Henry and Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano shot 68. Austria's Martin Wiegele also was 4 under with five holes left. Sergio Garcia opened with a 72.

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy bogeyed five of the last six holes for a 74, and playing partner Graeme McDowell, coming off a victory Sunday in Bulgaria in the Volvo World Match Play, also had a 74.

Senior PGA: Jay Haas and Duffy Waldorf shared the first-round lead in the Senior PGA Championship, shooting 5-under 66 in breezy, cool conditions at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.

LPGA: Plans for the inaugural Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic were revised with portions of the golf course still under water from the heavy rains earlier in the week.

After Thursday's first round was canceled and the event shortened to 54 holes, the LPGA had to re-group again. A new plan tentatively calls for 12 holes to be played Friday with the possibility of as many as 13 to 15 holes being played Saturday and, hopefully, an 18-hole Sunday finale.